On a record-setting sun drenched day at Adams Field, the 35th-ranked Wayne State University football team (3-1 overall, 2-1 GLIAC) recorded a 35-21 victory over the No. 32-ranked University of Findlay Oilers (3-1 overall, 2-1 GLIAC) Saturday afternoon.

WSU senior running back Joique Bell (Benton Harbor, Mich.) became the GLIAC's all-time leading rusher late in the second quarter on an 11-yard gain. After being held to 12 yards on four carries in the opening stanza, he gained 102 yards on nine attempts in the second period.

UF took a 3-0 lead on its second drive of the game going 38 yards in 10 plays with Cameron Stevens connecting on an 18-yard field goal attempt. The Oilers had a first-and-goal at the WSU one yard line but a false start penalty on second down pushed the visitors back to the five.

Wayne State safety Kenny Loney (Novi, Mich./Walled Lake Western) recorded his second interception of the first half on Findlay's second drive of the second quarter giving WSU the ball at the Findlay 49. On the fifth play of the drive, Bell went around right end diving into the end zone completing a 26-yard touchdown run. Anthony Morasso's (Detroit, Mich./Harper Woods Notre Dame) PAT kick gave the Warriors a 7-3 advantage with 11:43 left before intermission.

Punts and turnovers accounted for the final six drives before halftime.

On the first drive of the second half, WSU's fourth down pass completion came inches short according to the official. It took Findlay three plays to go 54 yards for the go-ahead score. Quarterback Andrew Beam tossed a 40-yard scoring pass to Mike Chambers.

On the ensuing drive, Bell carried seven consecutive times for 46 yards before Mickey Mohner's (Painesville, Ohio/Harvey) second career completion accounted for a 35-yard touchdown pass to Ed Sanders (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance). Morasso's PAT made it 14-10 WSU at the mid-point of the third quarter.

Following a Findlay punt which was returned by Josh Renel (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams) to the WSU 47, Bell had four straight rushing attempts for 24 yards before Bruno Shkreli (Livonia, Mich./Clarenceville) gained 29 yards on two attempts including his second career touchdown on a 20-yard scamper around left end. Morasso's third PAT gave the hosts a 21-10 lead with 3:40 left in the third quarter.

The Oilers responded with a 16-play, 74-yard drive that took 9:10 off the clock as Monterae Williams scored on a one-yard plunge on third and goal. UF added a two-point conversion pass from Beam to Chambers pulling the Oilers within three at 21-18 with 9:24 left.

After a punt for each team, the Warriors went 65 yards in eight plays with Bell scoring on a two-yard run. Morasso's PAT gave WSU a 28-18 lead with 2:31 left.

Findlay answered with a 56-yard drive as Stevens made a 31-yard field goal to make it a seven-point contest at 28-21.

UF's onside kick went out of bounds, and Bell then went 55 yards around left the end on the first play to complete the scoring.

Bell finished the game with 289 yards on 33 carries, while Shkreli added 64 yards on five attempts. The Warriors finished with 383 rushing yards compared to 96 for Findlay.

All three WSU quarterbacks attempted a pass in the game and combined for 5-of-15 for 52 yards with three interceptions. Beam completed 18-of-36 passes for 252 yards with 10 completions going to Chambers.

Wayne State visits Tiffin on Sept. 26 before hosting Ashland for Homecoming on Oct. 3.

Notes:

Joique Bell became the GLIAC all-time leading rusher breaking Lee Marana's (Michigan Tech, 2003-06) conference mark of 4,748. Bell has 4,986 entering the Dragon contest.

Bell moved past four ball carriers and into 19th place on the NCAA Division II all-time rushing yards chart with 5,364.

Bell increased his career point total to 432 which is tied-for-14th in NCAA Division II history with Rashaan Dumas (S. Connecticut State, 1996-99).

Bell is 28th in the NCAA Division II record books for career all-purpose yards with 6,454.

Stan Thornton moved into sixth place on the WSU all-time kickoff return yards list with 872 yards. He needs five kickoff return yards to equal Dick Byas' (1971-73) fifth-place mark. Byas played 103 games with the Atlanta Falcons from 1974-80.

Head coach Paul Winters is tied with David C. Farris (1981-86) for fifth place on the WSU all-time coaching wins list with 24.